Content Created by Tracey of Baker Street Living 
This website contains affiliate links. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases (at no cost to you).
Cloud dough is a light, fluffy, and moldable clay that kids (and adults!) absolutely love. It’s soft like a cloud, easy to shape, and perfect for sensory play, small sculptures, ornaments, or pretend food. Best of all, you can make cloud clay at home with simple, inexpensive ingredients.
What You’ll Need
- Cornstarch
- Hair Conditioner (or inexpensive lotion)
- Food Colouring
- Baby Oil
Table of Contents
How to Make Cloud Dough
- Pour 1 cup of hair confitioner a into a mixing bowl.
If you want all one colour of cloud clay, add a few drops of food colouring to the conditioner. - Mix in cornstarch
Gradually add about 2 cups of cornstarch, stirring as you go. The mixture will start to thicken and resemble a dough. - Add oil for softness
Add 1–2 teaspoons of baby oil (or vegetable oil). This helps create that soft, fluffy cloud texture. - Stir the mixture until it thickens.
- Once the mixture becomes difficult to stir, use your hands to knead it until smooth and soft. (If using food colouring – protect the surface from staining with parchment or wax paper)
- If it’s sticky, add a little more cornstarch. If it feels dry, add a tiny bit more oil.
How to Make Cloud Dough in Multiple Colours
To add colour, mix in a few drops of food colouring or a small dab of acrylic paint to the conditioner (lotion) before adding the cornstarch.
If you make cloud clay but want to divide it into different colours, separate it into balls while kneading the clay. Add a little food colouring to each ball of dough and add more until you reach your desired shade. Knead thoroughly so the colour is evenly distributed. For making marbled clay, stop kneading when you have the desired look and cut into shapes or strips.
Tip: Wearing gloves can help prevent stained hands when adding colouring.
How to Use Cloud Dough
Cloud clay is perfect for:
- Small figurines and shapes
- Ornaments and decorations
- Sensory play for kids
- Pretend food or play sets
- Simple craft projects
Let finished creations air dry for 24–48 hours. Once dry, they’ll be lightweight and slightly flexible. Sometimes, cloud clay can crack or flake while drying. Ive had cloud dough dry nicely and other times get huge cracks. Its unpredcitable.
Printable Instructions
How to Make Cloud Dough
Materials
- 2 cups Cornstarch
- 1 cup Hair Conditioner
- 1 – 2 tsp Baby Oil
- A few drops Fool Colouring (optional)
Instructions
- Pour 1 cup of hair confitioner a into a mixing bowl.
- If you want all one colour of cloud clay, add a few drops of food colouring to the conditioner.
- Gradually add about 2 cups of cornstarch, stirring as you go. (. The mixture will start to thicken and resemble a dough.)
- Add 1–2 teaspoons of baby oil
- Stir the mixture until it thickens.
- Once the mixture becomes difficult to stir, use your hands to knead it until smooth and soft. (If using food colouring – protect the surface from staining with parchment or wax paper)
- If it’s sticky, add a little more cornstarch. If it feels dry, add a tiny bit more oil
- To store, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and place in ziploc bag. Remove as much air as possible from the ziploc bag.
Oil Alternatives
You can use almost any oil, but there are a couple of things to keep in mind.
1- Scent – if substituting with cooking oils, such as olive oil, it can change the overall scent of the dough. Any oil that has a strong scent will mix with the scent of the confitioner and may be unpleasant. A good option is coconut oil mixed with a coconut-scented hair conditioner.
Spoilage – Cooking oils can spoil. If you are planning on storing and reusing the dough, consider sticking with baby oil. Hair oils, such as Moroccan oil, are good options but can be costly.
Storage Tips
If you want to reuse your cloud dough, store it in an airtight container or zip-top bag. Push out as much air as you can before storing. This helps keep it soft for future play. If it starts to dry out, knead in a drop of oil to refresh it. Eventually, it will no longer be salvageable, but you can get a few uses out of it before it crumbles apart.
Making cloud dough at home is a fun, creative activity that’s easy to customize and perfect for all ages. Whether you’re crafting with kids, creating decorations, or just enjoying a calming DIY project, cloud clay is a simple and satisfying craft to try.
This website contains affiliate links. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases (at no cost to you).